A storm rolled in!

UPDATE: The Proposed Gun Range <= the whole saga

The person who bought the former gun range property is re-appealing, although I don't think he has a leg to stand on. While I am on it, he has officially severed three properties. He has sold Property #1, having sold #3 in December. I presume the old farmhouse on lot #2 is still being renovated. It was in sad shape. There is an upper story apartment.  It is still for rent, for July 1st. 

• Dec. 9th – Property #3 sold Dec. 9th for $135,000 (lowered from $165,000 to $140,000). It is 1.9 acres.
• May 2024 – Property #1 has had its price reduced in December ( $185,000:  $144,000: $130,000).  It sold for $121,000. 

Anyway, back to my story. We'd planned to eat dinner by the water. That didn't happen, as a huge storm rolled in. I love the clouds.

I set up the videocamera:

I was sitting on the back deck, when the storm rolled in. The live map of lightning strikes did not bode well for sitting on a patio for dinner.

storm rolls in from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After the clouds rolled in, there were 22 vultures flying!

 

22 soaring vultures from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

If you like a good storm rolling in, here is one! The thunder was lovely, the wind blew, and the clouds were amazing.

June 20 storm from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We drove to Rideau Ferry to meet a friend for dinner. There are a lot of signs up regarding a cycling tour. We had to stay off the roads Saturday! I still cannot understand how and why the "Say No to the Gun Range" signs weren't allowed on country roads, but this is acceptable. I tried to look up this event, but they are a bit vague! 

Off we went. This dude was merrily making his way, with cars veering over the centre line to avoid him. I'd be scared!

I didn't take photos of the afternoon, but we were forced to eat indoors. This usually only happens in winter! I prefer the outdoor patio, or the screened in annex, but they wouldn't let us sit there in the outdoor porch either. 

My other disappointment is the new menu. They do not serve pasta any more! It is my favourite. This was March, 2018. We often eat here.

We arrived at 4, and a table beside us was reserved beside. We were actually sitting in the alcove  (file photos!), behind where the server was standing. I'd asked for a quiet corner, but that was not to be. There was a woman in the group, with that female laugh, loud and obnoxious. I have a bad startle reflex with noise. I had to plug my ears. JB actually took out his hearing aids, it was so loud. That is the issue with hearing aids, it amplifies all the sound, not just the conversations at our table. Even the server had to being raising her voice with the noise from the group.

It was difficult for all three of us. We hurriedly asked for the bill and headed home. What a day! Saturday I cooked up a couple of hamburgers. It was peaceful as we watched Escape to the Country!

Spring unfolds...

Spring continues to unfold as it would. There are those who say we only have three seasons, construction, snow and bugs! It looks like Bell Telephone is doing some heavy work.

We were headed into town to replace our phone. It was quiet, April 12th, in the afternoon! 

There was a horrible fire in Perth. Two dozen residents had to be found alternate accommodation. Some are with family members, others have been put up in hotels, with chits from local grocery stores, courtesy of our food bank. There was one man with injuries, and he ended up with burns, and is in hospital. This is low income housing, and you just feel so badly for people. 

There is a segment of the population in both the US and Canada, who feel we don't owe anything to our fellow human beings. That those born with a silver spoon in our mouths, should give back. For those to whom much is given, much is required. We donate monthly to our food bank. It is important to give people a hand up. 

Before the fire:

Back to our drive... There is still much storm damage about. 

An Easter rabbit.

Water is flowing quickly in Port Elmsley.

You can just see the ice on the other side of the Big Rideau.

The Rideau Ferry bridge is being repointed! 

The Osprey are back! There are two nests nearby. This one is beside the Rideau Ferry bridge. The reconstruction doesn't seem to bother them!

This nest is in Port Elmsley.

This is all the snow that is left. Back in Muskoka, we used to watch for when the ice went out. Here, it is the snow pile under the deck!

I showed you crocus #1, here are 2, 3 and 4!

I leave you with a giggle. While it is nesting season, the cardinal keeps on fighting with his reflection. The cats get so excited!

cardinal at the window from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We had lunch out!

 These are some drive-by photos on our way home from the Beckwith Heritage Festival. It was a busy day beginning with the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour on Saturday, June 11th. 

I like Pop's Cannabis sign: "BEST JOINT IN TOWN!" The figures in the next photo amuse me, I don't know where they came from, or what they are, but the owl and eagle are quite something. Smiths Falls is under construction. Downtown is quite the mess. 

The last photo, above, is a creative patio for the pub. It caught my attention.

Rideau Ferry bridge is getting a rehabilitation, with one lane of traffic only. It is lovely stopping at the light on this side of the bridge: you can look out into the Big Rideau!

If you click on the above photo, you'll see that they wrote on the black covering, 'no jumping!' Lots of kids jump off the bridge for fun in summer. 

We made it to CC's for lunch. This is our first restaurant meal since the fall. Lots of people were out and about using various means of transportation.

When we were stopped at the bridge, I could see the geese and goslings.

They turned up when we were waiting for our meals!

 

geese and goslings from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Clouds on the horizon:

Frog hunting

Citizen Science being what it is, I signed up to monitor chorus frogs. Finally, it was above 10 C. and they were awake. They haven't assigned me the two spots where I have heard them. Our frog pond and wetland, which surrounds our property, or another location where I have heard them.
We went to my sites, and had some issues with traffic! I'd forgotten my camera, and was restricted to my videocam. There was a crowd! Why she stopped there, I do not know.

Site 300

I did not think this was a good spot for them. This is a beaver dam pond. Not a frog to be heard. A lovely pair of ducks, though.

mergansers from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

 I even got out of the car and walked. JB read his book.



I heard some frogs.  Poor JB, "Turn here, turn here!"
Look at this hole! I was a bit afeared to go too close, but I sucked it up... it was wet inside.



The wetland was wet, and joyful, with the sounds of spring peepers and wood frogs. No chorus frogs.

frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

spring peepers

wood frog

This wetland skootched along here, right to the road. Still some ice, but they were singing!




mallards from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Neither of my two designated spots had frogs singing, but driving along I heard some more frogs. JB parked and I explored. Sure enough. This is the quarry.

In Canada, the western chorus frog is listed as threatened in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield under the Species at Risk Act (SARA)^[5][6]

They are so funny. I found some beside the quarry. The pond is a vernal pond, and feeds into the quarry.  When I was out in the open, they stopped. I walked behind these tree branches, and they began right away.



chorus frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

chorus frogs 3 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We went down to my other assigned site, 301, but I think I only heard a handful of peepers, as well as lots of canada geese. I won't go back there. Here is the distribution map.

This is why many mayors of rural, cottage country towns, have told summer residents to stay home.